A Laois County Councillor has urged the Local Authority to purchase a plot of land with “huge potential for future development.”
Fine Gael Cllr PJ Kelly proposed that the Council “consider the purchase of 4.75 acres of land in the townland of Cooltedery for the purpose of supplying car parking.”
Cllr Kelly was speaking at the May meeting of the Graiguecullen-Portarlington Municipal District this week – the District’s final meeting before the June 7 Local Elections.
He said the land in Portarlington “is within close proximity of the Town Square and Market House,” which he called “a prime area for car parking.”
Cllr Kelly said “businesses are crying out for this,” saying that parking facilities a natural fit for the land.
“This land is a floodplain, but turning it into a carpark, it could still be a floodplain and serve its purpose. It’s never going to be fit for anything else,” he said.
“In time, when the Market Hose is finished, car parking is going to be severely dented or lost there, and this land is 70 to 80 yards away, in an ideal location.
“There’s huge potential for future development for the town, and huge potential to make a link out to Derryounce. It’d be a shame not to see it taken full advantage of.”
Cllr Aidan Mullins supported the motion, saying the site “has no commercial value,” adding that “it makes sense” for Laois County Council to try to purchase the land in question.
In response, Mr Gerry Murphy, Head of Finance at the County Council said: “The landowner has been contacted regarding the purchase of this land and we are still awaiting a reply.”
Next, Cllr Kelly called for the installation of a pedestrian crossing on Park Lane Road, also in Portarlington.
“There’s a car park there, opposite the pharmacy on the far side of the road in Portarlington,” he said.
“The pedestrian crossing is actually back down the road, so people have to come out of the car park, and either get over a wall or go the whole way down the road to cross a pedestrian crossing just to go all the way back down the road again.”
Cllr Mullins again supported the motion the current crossing is in “totally the wrong location.”
Mr James Dowling, Senior Executive Engineer said the Council’s Roads Design Office will carry out a review at the location to consider the proposed crossing.
Finally, Cllr Kelly called for increased signage on the old Dublin Road opposite the Christmas Tree Depot in Ballybrittas.
“Vehicles are still dangerously overtaking on the white line at this location,” he said. “And the residents are afraid for their lives.”
Mr Phillip McVeigh, Senior Executive Engineer responded, confirming the Council will install new “concealed entrance” signage at the location.
SEE ALSO – Planning Permission granted for new residential development in Portarlington
